The recent cut of funding for SNAP benefits has mobilized Wayne locals to help food shelves prepare to support hungry residents.
Due to the government shutdown, funding for food stamps, otherwise known as SNAP, has not been provided for the month of November. According to Food Bank for the Heartland, a food bank partnered with Feeding America, “about 155,000 Nebraskans receive SNAP benefits, a little less than 8% of the state’s population.” While the impacts of the cuts haven’t been immediate, it’s expected that this will change.
“People are still using (SNAP), but it’s not as much,” said Bishop Cavene, the assistant office manager at Quality Foods in Wayne, NE. “Especially since they didn’t refill on the benefits. But people are using the rest of it. It’s only the sixth [of November], so they may still have a little to spend.”
Fortunately, there are multiple food pantries in Wayne. One of these is the Wayne Food Pantry, run by the First Presbyterian Church. The program is headed by Jenny Hammer with help from Pastor Teresa Bartlett, who said that the pantry’s work has been ongoing since the early ‘80s.
“We collect food from donations, and we also get some damaged food and things from grocery stores,” Hammer said. “We also have a backpack program at the community schools.”
Hammer said that over the past three years, there has been a friendly competition between the businesses in Wayne for who can raise the most food for the food pantry. It was started by Jen Clawson of Swans Apparel, who started a “food fight” among other local businesses to compete to gather the most food for local families in need.
“A lot of those are self-directed,” Pastor Bartlett said. “It’s not that we’ve gone out and said, ‘you need to do this’. They recognized a need in the community and addressed it by saying ‘let’s do a food drive.’”
Chele Meisenbach was mentioned by Hammer and Bartlett as a top contributor to the food drives. Meisenbach, who owns thrift store “Refind and Refresh,” said that she enjoys the competitive nature of the fundraiser. She also said that she knows what it’s like to have to rely of social services.
“I raised my son for thirteen months on welfare,” Meisenbach said. “There shouldn’t be judgement.”
Meisenbach proudly said that the collaboration among businesses has collected nearly 4,500 pounds of food for the Wayne Food Pantry this year. Ryan Davis, who operates the Davis Ford dealership in Wayne, explained his involvement in a recent food drive.
We collected cans and non-perishables over the course of a few weeks and then helped transported them,” Davis said. “[We] loaded them up in trucks and went around picking up the food at the other places and helped deliver it.”
“This time of year, generally, donations and interest in the food pantry picks up because of Thanksgiving and Christmas,” Bartlett said. “People are cognizant that those are times that require some extras. And so, we often see donations increase this time of year, notwithstanding a government shutdown.”
The government shutdown has paused food stamps for low-income households across America. Although the impacts have not been immediate, food banks and their supporters are bracing for impact.
“The amount of donations have increased greatly, and I think a lot of that is due to Chele,” Hammer said.
“My understanding is that, kind of like Social Security, SNAP benefits don’t necessarily all distribute on the same day,” Bartlett said.
Wayne State College has its own food pantry for students in need of extra food. According to Wayne State’s website, the food pantry is located in Morey Hall and is open on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Food can be donated at the Office of Residence Life, located in Room 101 of the Student Center.
“If there are students that are hurting or need something, there is no judgement,” Meisenbach said. “There shouldn’t be anyone that goes hungry in this community. Just make sure you’re reaching out. We all have a heart for this right now. No one cares who you voted for… At this point, just take care of each other.”
